Apparatus for automatically priming centrifugal pumps



APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY PRIHING CENTRIFUGAL PUMPS B. SKIDMORE, JR

Filed Aug. 15, 1927" \NVENTUR Banjul win Skidmam Jr.

Patented a. 22; .1929

UNITED srAras' rATEN'r orrica BENJAMIN sxrnmonn, an, or c anson, ntnruurs, .asereucn ro mrm'rrn x. mm-

APPARATUS FUR AUTOMATIGALLY PRIMING CENTIWFUGAL a pncau nmee duguatlt'r, war.- serau uaaiaeea.

This invention relates to improvements in apparatus for priming centrifugal pumps and is particularlyadapted though not necessarily limited in its use with bilge pumps and t the like, and one of the objects of the invention is to provide an improved apparatus of this character that will be automatic in action.

To the attainment of these ends and the accomplishment of other new and useful ob- W jects as will appear, the invention consistsin the features of novelty in substantially the construction, combination and arrangement of the several parts hereinafter more fully described and claimed and shown in the accoml panying drawing illustrating this invention, and inwhich Figure 1 is a view partly in side elevation, partly in section and part y broken away of an apparatus of this character constructed in accordance with the tion. 1 Figure 2 is a detail sectional view taken on line 22, Figure 1. p

Figure 3 is a detail sectional view taken on 7 line 3-3, Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a detail fragmentary view of a portion of a modified form of the invention.

Referring more particularly to the drawing the numeral 10 designates generally a tank or receivenin which the liquid to be pumped is delivered through'a suitable pipe 11 principles of this inven- The tank or receiver is provided with a cover-12 having a manhole opening closed by 3 means of a manhole cover 13.

' Arranged within the receiver is; a container 1a which may be of any desired size and configuration and is supported by means of legs 15, preferably three in number, so that the container will be spaced near the bottom otthe tanklO. 'A second container 16 is also arranged within the receiver and is spaced above the container 14. desired size and. configuration and is sup ported by means of uprights or spacing standards17. 7'

Leading from the container 16 and through thebottom thereof is a pipe 18 which projects for a considerable-distance below the llmttom to enter the pipe an trolled by a suitable switch .35.

The container 16 is also of any of the container 11 and is shaped at its lower end to form a return bond 19, the end of the bend havingcommunication as at 20 with a suction pipe 21., The suction pipe passes through suitable openings 2223 respectively n the containers 14 and 16, but which openlngs are closed to the interior of the respect ve co ntainers. lhe upper end of the suctlon pipe 21 passes through the manhole cover 13 and is supportedthereby'by means of a suitable flange 24; The end of the suction pipehas communication with a centrifugal pump 25, the latter being provided with an air valve 26. The lower end 27 of the suction pipe 21 terminates adjacent the bottom of the tank of the receiver 10 and is provided with a valve28 which 0 ens to permit the liquid 7 will close to prevent the passage of the liquild out of the lower endthereof.

Leading from the container 16 preferably through the top thereof is another pi 29 which also has communication with the l wer container 14; through the topv thereof and through which ipe air 'inthe container 16 will be forced t e'refrom and into the container 14 to escape from the latter throu h a pipe 30 to the receiver or tank 10,-a stra ner 31 being preferablyprovided over the end ofthe pipe 30 and which end 32 is located adjacent and at any desired point above the top of the container 16. 1

An outwardly o ening valve 33 is provided in the container 1 adjacent the bottomthereof and through wh ch valve liquid in the container 14 will be discharged into the tank or receiver 10 undercertain conditions.-

The pump25 is operated by a suitable motor 3 1 and the operation of the motor is .con-

The switch may be ofany ordinary and well known type embodying a centre arm 36 which is adapted to be actuated by means of dollars 37'38 on a rod 39 that extends through a suitable guide 40 into the tank or receiver 110 and terminates adjacent the bottom of the latter. A float 41 0 rates upon the rod 39' and the, position oFthe float is controlled by the height of the liquid in the tank '0I 1'6CB1V6I. Ashoulder 42 is arranged 100 adjacent the bottom of .the rod 39 to be engaged by the float 41 when the liquid in the tank or receiver is at the lowest level and by engaging the collar 42 the rod 39 will be" shifted ,to start the motor.

The operation of this improved device is as follows. The liquid runs into the tank or receiver 10 through the pipe 11 and as it gradually accumulates and rises in the receiver it will also rise inthe suction pipe 21 (the valve 28 openingto permit the liquid to enter the pipe),.through the pipe 18 and hollow container 16 to the same level as in the tank or receiver 10, as any air in the suction pipe 21 escapes through the pump 25 and the valve 26. The valve 26 is preferably of the type which opens to the passage of air and to the passage of liquid. Air in the pipe 18 and container 16 will pass to the atmosphere through the pipe 29, container 14 and pipe 30.

When the liquid has reached a predetermined level, preferably even with the upper part of the container 16 or slightly thereabove, it will overflow into the pipe 30, through the strainer 31 and into the container 14. Liquid cannot enter the container 14 through the check valve 33 as it opens. outwardly.

As 1i uid rises in the container 14 air above the sur? be forced through the. pipe 29 into the container 16 above the surface of the liquid there-. in, thus causing a pressure there, equal to the static head of the liquid contained in the pipe 30. Pipes 21 and 18 will then form an'inverted siphon as the check valve 28 remains closed. I

The added pressure in the container 16 will unbalance the siphon thereby causing the liquid'to rise in the pipe 21 and prime the pump25 As the liquid rises in the tank orreceiver 10 to the predetermined level, float 41 will actuate the switch control member 36, caus-' ing the motor 34 to actuate the pump" 25.

When the pump has removed the liquid from the tank or receiver 10 to a predetermined low level the float 41 will again actuate the switch to stop the When the of the liquid will have run out of the con tainer 14 through the check valve 33.

container 10 he pipe 18 at its lower end is in the form 'of a return bend 19'so as to prevent air being drawn intothe suction pipe 21.

In Figure 4 there is shown a modified form ace of theliquid is trapped and will level of the liquid in the tank container 10 falls below thecontainer 14 all of the invention and in lieu of the pipe 18 and the return bend 19 there is provided a valve chamber 44 which has communication through a pipe 45 with the bottom of the container 16 and also b means of a pipe 46 directly with the suction pipe 21. Within the chamber 44 is a float valve 47 which opens when liquid fills the valve chamber and closes when liquid is withdrawn, thus preventing air from being drawn into the suction pipe 21. The pressure which is exerted above the liquid in the container 16 will force the liquid from the container 16 directly into the pipe 21.

While the preferred forms of the invention have been herein shownand described, it is to be understood that various changes may I be made in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts, within the scope of the claims, without departing from the spirit of this invention.

What is claimed as new is 1. An apparatus for priming pumps embodying a receiver for liquid, a pump, a suction pipe connected with the inlet of the pump and extending into the receiver, means for compressing air, and means whereby when the, liquid reaches a predetermined height in the said receiver air will be compressed and liquid will be forced by "the said compressed air into the suction pipe causing priming of the pump.

2. An apparatus for priming pumps embodying a receiver for liquid, a pump, a suction pipe extending from the pump into the receiver, means whereby liquid will be forced into the suction pipe by the action of compressed gas, and means whereby the static head of liquid contained in the receiver from which the liquid is pumped will compress the receiver, an inverted siphon, and means for unbalancing the liquid in said siphon by action of compressed air at a predetermined time in the cycle of operation of the apparatus thereby forcing liquid into the said suction pipe to prime the pump, the said air being compressed by the static head of liquid in the receiver from which the liquid is pumped.

5. An apparatus for priming pumps cmbodying a receiver for the liquid to be pumped, a pump, a'suction pipe extending from the pump into the receiver, spaced superposed closed containers, a pipe "leading from the uppermost container adjacent the top thereof and into the top of the lowermost container, a pipe leading from the lowermost container and open. to the atmosphere,

the open endof the last said pipe being dis-- posed adjacent the high Water levelin the receiver and out of direct communication with the uppermost container, a pipe leading from the bottom of the uppermost container superposed closed and having communication directly with the said suction pipe, and a valve in the suction pipe below the point of connection ofjthe last recited pipe thereto I 6. An apparatus for priming pumps embodying a receiver. 'for 'the liquid, to be pumped, a pump, a suction pipe extending from the pump into the receiver, spaced containers, a pipe leading from the uppermost container adjacent the top thereof and into the top of the lowermost container, a pipe leading from the lowermost container and open to the atmosphere, the open end of the last said pipe being disposed adjacent the high water level in the receiver pipe having a return suction bodying a receiver for the liquid to be pumped, a pump, "a suction pipe extendingfrom the pump into the receiver,

spaced superposed closed containers,

a pipe leading 40 from the uppermost container adjacent the top thereof and into thetop of the lowermost container, a pipe leading from the lowermost container and open to the atmosphere, the open end of the last said pipe being disposed adjacent the high water level in the receiver and out of direct communication with the uppermost container, a pipe leading from the bottom of the uppermost container and having communication directly with the said suction pipe, a valve in the suction pipe below the point of connection of the last recited pipe thereto, an outlet in the bottom of the lowermost container, and an outwardly opening valve for controlling said outlet.

8. An apparatus for priming pumps embodying a receiver for the liquid to be pumped, a pump, a suction pipe extending from the pump into the receiver, spaced, superposed closed containers, a pipe leading from the uppermost container adjacent the top thereof and into the top of the lowermost container, a pipe leading from the lowermost container and open to the atmosphere, the open end of the last said pipe being disposed adjacent the high Water level in the receiver priming pumps emi.

and out of direct communication with the uppermost container, a pipe leading from the bottom of the uppermost container to a point below the lowermost container, the last said pipe having a return bend at the lower end thereof and having communication with the suction pipe above said bend, av valve in the suction pipe oelow the last said point of connection, an outletin the bottom of the lowermost container, and an outwardly opening valve for controlling said outlet.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification, on this 11th day of August, A. D. 1927.

BENJAMIN SKIDMORE, JR. 

